Templars School History Page Tile Hill Coventry

"Templars School Reunion"

The Story of "Templars and Whoberley Schools" ...

Templars School Tile Hill Coventry

THE STORY OF A SCHOOL Templars Primary First Printed 1996

THE LAST CHAPTER Finally we reach the present day, and the end of an era. We move into our new building after Christmas 1996. The Annual events continued: Harvest Festivals, Christmas Concerts and parties for both Schools. The Parents’ Pantomime staged its’ last performance in December 1990. The School received an Award of Merit from the British Legion in appreciation of its’ support and help over the years, in November 1993. The Summer Fete went from strength to strength getting bigger every year. There were dancing displays, stalls, games, refreshments and a dog display. In 1995, the School raised the grand total of ?1,300 for the National Children’s Homes. On the 12th of March 1993,we raised money for Comic Relief, with painted faces, red noses and custard pies! I will now admit that I bought all my class a ticket on the proviso that if they won, I could throw the custard pie. It worked! Mr; Hedges was the recipient. Two children from Templars’ joined others from around the City, in October 1990, to plant shrubs in the Peace ‘Garden’. We adopted a dog called ‘Saul’ from an animal Rescue Centre. He is an old Greyhound, retired from racing. We also acquired two cats. Liquorice had the run of the School and could often be found curled up in a classroom. Sadly she died, but Tom is still with us. Visitors to School were the Mounted Police in 1990. Their splendid horses thrilled the children and Miss Leslie had a special treat. She was allowed to ride one of the horses. In spring 1992, the Lord Mayor visited the School as part of his plan to visit all Primary Schools during his Term of Office. ’Colliche’, a South American Music Group, which included one of the teachers, visited School, played for us and gave workshops during the day. The Wild Life Garden and Conservation Area gained in strength. In 1991, three hundred and fifty trees were planted, all different species. Plans were made for a pond and a wetland area. Visits were made to the British Museum, the local Gurudwara, and to St. James’ Church for Easter and Christmas Services and in 1995, for a Leavers’ Service. 1995 and 1996 saw groups of Year 5 and 6 children going to Plas Dol-Y-Moch for five days. Lisa Mooney gives a contemporary view. "We got on the coach about 8:45am. I didn’t have many friends but I sat by Lorna Hanger. When we got there, we got our bags and went to our Dormitories. Then we went to the House (because we were in the stables) and had Lunch. I didn’t really like most of the food but it was worth it for the Activities. We went into the Lecture Room and Phil chatted to us about what we would be doing. It was nothing like I expected. The Stables were weird because there were loads of corridors to our Dormitories. It took ages to get there (and it wasn’t pleasant when you were soaking wet). I had two favourite activities. They were the Zip Line and Canoeing. They were fun." Lisa Mooney Unusual events were a fire in an Infant Classroom in the Junior School. Fire Drill worked and it was quickly put out. Cable TV came to video the Upper School Concert at Christmas, namely ‘Jack up the Beanstalk’. An article appeared in the Evening Telegraph entitled ‘Days of the Old Tin Bath’. This was a History Topic, when we turned part of the Entrance Hall into a room from the 1930’s. In 1993, the Amalgamation of the juniors and Infants was proposed, to be put into practice the following year. But before this thing a very sad event took place. Mr. Dimmock our caretaker died after twenty-four years, many jokes and numerous kindnesses with the School. The next day was very sad, and as Mr. Hedges wrote in the logbook: ‘We all muddled through what seems a very long day’. Friday the 30th was his Funeral and children brought small posies or single flowers into School for him. We took them to Church, St. Oswalds’, which was packed with all his friends and then placed them with all the other tributes at Canley Crematorium. On the 24th of July 1993 Mrs. Davies retired after twenty-eight years at the School. She arrived in a chauffeur-driven limousine to find the whole School waiting to welcome her. September 7th plans for the new School were proposed. A brand new building for a two and a half form entry. The official notice to close Templars’ appeared in The Evening Telegraph on October 14th. The end of the School year, 1994, saw the retirement of Mrs. Atkins, the Head of the Infants, and Mrs Spencer. This was the September that the two Schools became one. The Parents, Teachers and Friends Association organised a Balloon race. A balloon was released for every child in the School. To record the event, the Coventry Evening Telegraph included the following article. ‘Balloons which were released during the celebrations to mark the opening of the new Templars’ Primary School drifted south-eastwards, some reaching as far afield as France, Germany and Switzerland. But the winning balloon, released by seven year old Jordan Thompson, landed in the coastal resort of Savona, northern Italy, about eight hundred miles away. Jordan won a Templars’ T-shirt and a goody bag full of sweets, stationary items, and balloons, presented to him at School Assembly last week.’ Over the past year, friends of Templars, ex-pupils and staff have come to School to rekindle their memories and I am grateful to all those who put pen to paper to help compile this book.

[click here] ... continued Chapter Nine

Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the old pupils and staff who have helped in the production of this history.
Thank you to Mrs. Clay who has put this History together.

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